Previously: "Seal our relationship?" asked Relena as she looked at Richie confused. "You mean like an agreement?"
"Yeah," answered Richie as a jukebox suddenly turned on and began to play a random song. "Mother always said that when a couple begins a relationship that they should seal their relationship with an agreement of some sort."
Relena smiled as she knew what to do and Richie seemed to be familiar with the song that was playing as he held Relena's hands tenderly.
"Let's seal our relationship with a kiss as we hear that song in the background," suggested Relena as the song God Gave Me You by Dave Barnes played in the background. And so they sealed their relationship with a kiss before setting out on a journey that would change their lives forever.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and story elements of the Pokémon franchise. Nintendo owns it; I'm just borrowing their characters and story elements for entertainment purposes.
4: The Tough yet Adorable Sparky, Richie's First Pokémon
Things for youngest daughter of Michiru Delia Kaiou seemed to starting off on the right foot for her despite having to flee from her own home. She slipped past 15 of her 16 brothers and sisters, who wanted her either thrown out of the palace or dead... well maybe not dead, but completely humiliated to the point where she would never show her face again. Her mother and sister, Jessica, helped her flee from Sol Palace after helping her pack some of her new clothes, two of her one piece swimsuits and some gear that Jessica bought for her during her journey. The items that were purchased were a iPhone 4S with a weather and waterproof case, a Butterfly Edge sword to use in self-defense, some Quick Balls to use for capturing certain Pokémon without having to fight in Pokémon battles, and a pack of 6 Potions and a few Full Heals to go along with the supplies Relena picked up at Aurora's treasure cavern. Jessica felt that her baby sister was ready to tackle the Pokémon world and take it by storm.
Relena about thought her sister's encouraging words as she checked her supplies and then looked to her boyfriend as she gave a gentle smile as she saw him blushing redder than a Cheri Berry.
'Maybe it was our first kiss was a little too much for him,' thought Relena as she too was blushing after they had their first kiss. 'But I know my sister is gonna wanna know about him.'
Relena turned to her boyfriend with a gentle smile on her face as she noticed him just sitting on a bench and his face was a little red after his first kiss with Relena.
'I can't believe that I asked the youngest daughter of Kaiou family to go out with me,' thought Richie as he was thinking what had happened. 'I was trying to ask her for directions and I asked her to date me. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU'RE AN IDIOT!'
Relena looked to Richie and then pulled out her new iPhone and called her sister Jessica. Three rings went by until Jessica picked up and answered.
"Hey there baby sister," Jessica said in a sleepy tone. "I didn't think you would call this early. You're not homesick already, are you?"
"Ha ha, no I'm not homesick," answered Relena as she gave a light chuckle, "but I do need your help. You and Argon's help."
"They haven't found out have they?" Jessica asked Relena in a sleepy and worried tone.
"No, the other siblings haven't found out that I left," answered Relena. "The servants haven't either."
"Well that's good to hear," began Jessica in an irritated tone, "but why are you calling me?"
"I'm calling you because I have surprise for you," Relena said to her as she and Jessica were
"Did you win a million dollars already?" Jessica jokingly asked Relena as she reached for her bottle of water.
"Nope, I got a boyfriend," answered Relena with a beaming smile.
Jessica widened her eyes and spat out the water at Argon by mistake and made the shiny Tyranitar become startled and wake up looking to see what hit him with water.
"Well, that is a surprise," replied Jessica. "Argon and I will be right there. Shopping District, right?"
"Yup," answered Relena as Jessica turned her phone off.
Relena turned her phone off as well and went back to her boyfriend, who still was blushing. Relena took notice of him blushing and gave him a peck kiss on his right cheek to calm him down.
In a set of bushes close to Relena and Richie, a lone Pikachu watched the very young couple and shook his head when he saw Relena and Richie being romantic. That or he was shaking his head at Richie because he wasn't the kind of trainer he was looking for. He gave one last look at the two young trainers before scampering off, but keeping a close eye on Relena and Richie. He was hungry and the shop owners he knew certainly had their restaurants open at the time. The Pikachu had a scruff of fur that grew on his forehead and had many compliments from the store owners he knew well. The Pikachu did have a name and it was one given to him by the daughter of a hardware store owner. She had named him Sparky because of the electric energy he gives off with his Thundershock attack. The Pikachu took a liking to the name Sparky and kept it ever since.
"Hello Sparky," greeted the store owner of a pastry shop close to Sparky's little hideout.
'Hi there Joanna,' replied Sparky as he didn't look at the pastry shop owner and kept watching Relena and Richie.
The pastry shop owner put her hands on her hips and huffed in frustration as she said in a mock pout, "And I just baked a fresh batch of brown sugar cookies. You're usually my taste taster."
Sparky then heard his stomach growling again and decided to break off of watching the young couple. He followed the pastry shop owner to help with making sure that her pastries and desserts would be ready for the very early birds who opened their shops early to get ready for the day.
'Hey wait for me,' Sparky called out to the pastry shop owner.
Within 30 minutes Relena, Richie and Aurora were sitting by a fountain waiting for Jessica to arrive with her faithful companion, her shiny Tyranitar, Argon. The three of them heard the noise of a car engine coming and Relena knew that it was her sister Jessica as she usually drove a Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra. Jessica parked her car a block away and released Argon from his Pokéball.
"Alright Argon, let's go meet with my baby sister and her first and hopefully her only boyfriend," Jessica said to her shiny Tyranitar.
'Coming Jessica,' replied Argon as he followed Jessica closely. Argon had decided to follow Aurora's example and become Jessica's bodyguard whenever Jason wasn't around. Jessica had hastily put her china blue dress and hadn't fixed her hair up and just let her hair down. Jessica really wasn't dressed to meet Relena and her boyfriend, but went nonetheless.
'You know Jessica,' began Argon, 'you left my Float Stone in your dresser.'
Jessica yawned and shook her head as she walked across the street to the fountain with Argon hot on her heels, trying to stay as close as possible to her. Jessica got across the street and approached the fountain where her baby sister and her boyfriend were waiting for her and Argon. Relena noticed her sister coming, got up and ran towards her.
"Hi Jess," Relena said happily as she wrapped her arms around Jessica's waist and hugged her sister.
Jessica just yawned and patted Relena on her head as she was still tired and wanted to be sleeping instead being up at an ungodly hour meeting someone new. Relena looked up and noticed that Jessica was sleepy still and let go of her older sister. She helped Jessica over to the fountain and helped her sit down.
"Thank you Relena," Jessica said sleepily. "Can you and Argon go get my glasses, please? They're in the glove compartment."
"Sure thing," Relena answered cheerfully. "Come on Argon."
'Coming little Princess,' replied Argon as he took the lead and began to cross the street with Relena at his side much to Aurora's displeasure. 'Sure, she remembered to bring her glasses, but left my Float Stone in her dresser.'
"I heard that Argon," Jessica snapped at Argon sleepily before noticing Aurora's displeasure. "Relena will be fine with Argon, Aurora,"
'I know, but I feel tense when little Relena leaves my sight,' Aurora replied softly to Jessica.
Jessica gave a slight nod as she understood where Aurora was coming from. Relena's mother and Jessica had asked Aurora to remain at Relena's side and protect her.
"I understand Aurora," began Jessica as she stood up and went over to Aurora and whispered in his ear, "But I need your help to grill this kid about why he wants to date my baby sister. I'm not gonna let just any guy date my baby sister. I'm sure you wouldn't want any this kid dating Relena for the wrong reasons."
Aurora gave a slight nod as he too didn't want either this Richie kid, or another guys dating Relena just to say they dated someone from the royal family or for... other reasons. Aurora and Jessica approached a nervous Richie as he sat there waiting for Relena to return from the small errand that Jessica sent her on.
"Excuse me, are you Relena's boyfriend?" Jessica asked Richie.
"Y-yes," stammered Richie as was nervous. "M-my name is Richie Henderson."
'Henderson, isn't that the last name of the third gym leader on Emerald Island?' Aurora asked Jessica.
"Yeah, Rena 'Sakura' Henderson," answered Jessica before turning to Richie. "Are you saying that you're the son of the third gym leader?"
"So that's where mother went to," Richie said to himself as he had no clue where his mother went to after she left him at the Emerald Cove Resort.
'Eh, are you saying that you didn't know that your mother became a gym leader?' Aurora asked Richie surprise.
Richie shook his head and answered, "My stepfather told me that my mother left me for another guy and got killed."
"What about your father?" Jessica asked Richie as she was interested in hearing Richie's story.
Richie told Jessica and Aurora his personal story about how he was born into a family of resort owners on Emerald Island. He told them about how his mother married a thief hired by a rival owner to steal from her resort and she caught him trying to steal from her personal safe.
As Richie was telling his story to Jessica and Aurora, Relena and Argon rummaged through Jessica's Mustang looking for Jessica's glasses.
"Ugh, why doesn't Jess ever keep her glasses in a container?" huffed an upset Relena.
Argon chuckled at Relena's question and answered, 'I've been wondering that myself and even I don't have an answer for that.'
"I thought you were supposed to know almost everything about Jessica," Relena said to her sister's shiny Tyranitar.
'I guess you're right about that,' said Argon as he chuckled in embarrassment. 'Most of the time, I let Jessica have some space and charge in whenever she needs me.'
"Not good, if you're gonna be Jessica's bodyguard," Relena said as she finally looked under the front passenger seat. "Ah, found them. They were under the passenger seat.
"Okay, let's get back to Jess and Aurora," Relena said as she put her sister's glasses in her own right breast jacket pocket. "Are you coming Argon?"
'C-coming Relena,' called out Argon as he hurried over to the young princess's side.
"So why do you want to date my baby sister?" Jessica asked Richie as she figured that Relena had found her glasses by now after listening to Richie's story along with Aurora.
Richie sighed as he gave his answer.
"I wasn't really thinking when I asked your sister out," answered Richie. "I was trying to ask for directions. But I was so..."
Richie paused to think for the rest of his answer. He was trying to think of the rest of his answer as he wanted to be honest with Jessica and his girlfriend's Pokémon bodyguard.
"Transfixed by how cute she looked?" asked Jessica as she guessed what Richie was trying to say.
"Yes," Richie answered softly as he was worried that Jessica and Aurora would be upset with him.
Jessica looked to her baby sister's Pokémon bodyguard with a smile and gave him a nod as to say that she approved of Richie. Aurora was a bit hesitant at first but gave a nervous nod as he would allow this Richie kid be near Relena.
"You're a good kid," began Jessica, "and we think you're a good fit for Relena."
"Really?" asked Richie.
'Yes really,' answered Aurora. 'But I will remain at her side, always.'
"Just promise that you'll take care of my baby sister and treat her with respect," requested Jessica.
"My parents taught me to be respective of the ladies," Richie replied as he suddenly found a sense of confidence as he smiled to Jessica and Aurora.
'That's a good answer young man,' said Aurora. 'But you have a long road ahead of you before I'll trust you.'
"Um thank you," Richie said nervously before facing Jessica. "I'll take good care of Relena.. I'd protect her with my life."
"Oh that's so sweet of you," Relena said as she and Argon rejoined the group and handed Jessica her designer glasses. "Next time make sure you have your case for your glasses."
'I don't see why you even need to wear glasses, Jessica,' Argon said to his trainer. 'Your eyes are perfect and I don't think you need them.'
"Argon, they're not prescription glasses," Jessica said as she went over to Relena and cleaned her glasses on Relena's jacket.
"Hey!" exclaimed Relena. "Don't clean your glasses on my jacket."
"Well that's what happens when you wake me up at 2:15 in the morning," replied Jessica as she put her glasses on her face. "Now I'm guessing there's more to this then meeting your boyfriend, right?"
"Oh yes," answered Relena as Jessica gave a long yawn. "Richie here needs some clothes and he left Emerald Island with just the clothes on his back and the form the let's him be a Pokémon trainer earlier than 10 years old."
Jessica eyes then widened when she heard that Richie had only the clothes on his back. Jessica then snapped her fingers in Argon's direction.
'Yes Jessica, I'm on it,' said Argon as he quickly thundered back to Jessica's car.
"Uh, is there something that I should know about?" Richie asked as he became nervous.
'Listen to my advice young Richie Henderson,' began Aurora, 'it's best if you don't try to run from Jessica.'
Richie gave a gulp of fear as he was frozen in place and it wasn't from her Beartic that she let out of his Pokéball. Argon thundered back to Jessica as he brought her sewing kit to her.
"Argon, measuring tape," Jessica commanded her Tyranitar as she snapped her fingers.
Argon hurriedly got into her sewing kit, pulled out her measuring tape and tossed her the measuring tape. Jessica caught the measuring tape and made measurements of Richie and wrote them down on a notebook that Argon tossed to her before she could snap her fingers and request Argon to give it to her.
"Hmm...," began Jessica as she looked over her measurements for Richie and then began to sketch designs.
Jessica also had a dark aura behind her as scribbled designs for various outfits for Richie... and one more outfit for Relena. Jessica was certainly wide awake now that her inner Tim Gunn was unleashed and the paper was flying as she finished coming up with designs.
"Now, let's get to those stores and get these outfits assembled and ready for your boyfriend," Jessica said as she pushed her glasses up to the bridge of her nose and then reached to grab Richie as if she was an evil genius bent on doing experiments on Richie.
Sparky had finished testing food out at the pastry shop and then went to find the young human couple and searched for 15 minutes until he came across Relena and Richie by chance at a shop where they were buying winter gear.
"No Jessica, I mean it," Relena said as she shoved the boots back at her sister. "I'm not wearing boots and that's final."
"Oh really?" challenged Jessica "What if you guys go to the arctic area of the Atlantica Islands?"
"She has a point Relena," said Richie as he was still wearing the winter outfit Jessica had designed for him. "Not to mention one of the gyms is on Sapphire Island. And Sapphire Island is in the arctic area of the Atlantica Islands."
"I said 'no' and mean 'no'," snapped Relena. "My sandals are fine. I will not wear any other footwear."
Jessica rolled her eyes and shook her head in disbelief.
"So when your feet start to freeze you'll still refuse to wear footwear that keeps them warm, right?" Jessica asked her baby sister as she was trying to use logic.
Relena narrowed her eyes at Jessica as she knew Jessica was right but tried to hold out and come up with an excuse that would pass.
"Yeah... but..." protested Relena before Richie held her hands tenderly.
"Relena, you've got to be realistic," Richie said to his girlfriend. "It's cold on Sapphire Island and temperature rarely gets past 40 degrees. I know, my mother took me to Sapphire Island and it is really cold."
"You should listen to your boyfriend, Relena," Jessica said as she gestured to Richie.
Relena sighed in defeat as she drooped her shoulders and accepted the pair of boots Jessica offered to her. Relena examined the boots and gave them a close look. They were brown leather hiking boots that were made for just the climate on the Sapphire Island.
An hour later Relena and Richie came out with a couple shopping bags each. Relena got a winter outfit that her sister designed for her and the pair of winter boots that she was reluctant to buy. Relena shook her head in disbelief, but at least the boots had a thick wool lining in them eliminating the need for socks as she made it very clear to her sister that there was not a ghost of chance that she would wear socks. The boots that she bought, Jessica pointed out had the thick wool lining eliminating the need for socks. Relena tried to say that the gossip tabloids might get a picture of her wearing boots when she felt that she had her reputation to keep in intact.
Jessica face-palmed herself lightly in disbelief at Relena being worried about some stupid gossip tabloids. She sighed as she sarcastically asked, "You're joking, right? You're worried about upholding some reputation you have and that some tabloid morons are gonna snap pictures of you just to get a cover story?!"
"Yeah," Relena answered softly with a worried look on her face.
Jessica took her 300 dollar glasses off and face-palmed herself harder at Relena being worried over nothing. Jessica ran her hand over her face and put her glasses back on her face as she composed herself and cleared her throat.
"Relena," began Jessica as she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, "you're not that well-known to have your face plastered on the tabloids. So you don't have much to worry about.
"As for your reputation," continued Jessica, "throw it out the window. Hector only did that so you could feel better about yourself."
'Ouch, that's kind of harsh don't you think?' asked Sparky as he made his presence known.
Richie turned around and noticed Sparky for the first time and then sighed as he wished he had a Pokémon like his girlfriend, who already had 3 Pokémon with her
"You know, I'm looking to get a Pokémon," Richie told Sparky. "Why not be my first Pokémon?"
'Because you don't have any Pokéballs,' answered Sparky. 'And why would I want to be with someone like you? I'd rather be with a trainer like your girlfriend.'
That response really hurt Richie as he was looking for his first Pokémon, but Sparky was right about one thing, he had no Pokéballs.
"That can be remedied easily," Jessica said as she gave Richie a set of Pokéballs that had a star sticker on them. "There, now you have Pokéballs to catch Pokémon with."
"Thank you," Richie said to Jessica as he bowed to her.
Jessica then picked up Sparky and took him to the side with Argon following them.
"Why are you being judgmental of that poor kid?" Jessica asked Sparky. "Don't you think that he deserves to have a Pokémon that's strong, kind... a Pokémon like you."
'I'd rather be with the girl instead of him,' answered Sparky.
"Could it hurt to give my sister's boyfriend a chance?" Jessica asked Sparky in a silky and seductive tone.
Sparky sighed as he drooped his shoulders in defeat. How could he say 'no' to human female when she uses silky and a seductive tone with him. He just gives in and agrees.
'Fine I'll give him a chance to prove himself to me,' relented Sparky. 'But the first time he messes up, I'm walking.'
"Fair enough," said Jessica as she held her hands up in mock surrender.
Once things were settled and Sparky became Richie's first Pokémon, Jessica decided that the young couple should go on their first date together and go to the beach as the place of their first official date as a couple. Richie was all too eager to make a good first impression with his girlfriend. With what money he had, Richie went and bought a picnic basket with an orange beach blanket and floral designs on it which were very colorful and suggested by Sparky.
'Now then, do you know what kind of foods that Princess Relena likes?' Sparky asked Richie.
Richie just scratched his head has he had no clue whatsoever on what kind of foods she liked. Sparky just sighed and shook his head in disbelief.
'So in other words you don't know much about Princess Relena,' assumed Sparky.
"Sadly, not much," Richie answered sheepishly.
'We're going to have a difficult time if you don't know things about your girlfriend,' Sparky said after he sighed and shook his head.
"Sorry," Richie said to Sparky as his face was downcast and became a bit upset.
'Hey, hey, hey, hey, don't start crying on me now,' Sparky said to Richie before he smacked him upside his head. 'You've got a girlfriend to impress as well as her sister and her Suicune bodyguard.'
Richie had a sweatdrop on his forehead when Sparky told him he had to impress Jessica and his girlfriend's Pokémon bodyguard as well as Relena.
'Okay, let's get some sandwich materials, chips and berry juice,' said Sparky as he ticked off the items that would need to be put in the picnic basket.
"Why berry juice?" Richie asked Sparky.
'Because you don't want your first Pokémon to be unhappy and thirsty, now do you?' Sparky asked Richie.
"Good point," answered Richie. "Wish I knew what food Relena's Pokémon bodyguard likes. I'm just gonna have to make guesses.
'Yes you are,' said Sparky. 'But it's gonna be part of the wonderful learning experience.'
Richie and Sparky continued shopping and filled up the picnic basket ready for Richie's first date.
"Jess, are you sure that's a good idea?" Relena asked her older sister as she was worried.
"Of course," answered Jessica. "I did it to Jason when we started to date each other. Besides I also did this to make sure that Jason wasn't a pervert. He still isn't a perverrt."
Relena remained silent as Jessica continued, "Do you want to find if your boyfriend is a pervert later? It'll certainly help you avoid seeing Aurora bringing his wrath down on your boyfriend should he be a pervert."
Relena thought about that for a moment. Now the idea seemed more like a good idea to her and she wanted to make sure that Richie wasn't a pervert and the run away from home portion of his story that she learned from Jessica and Aurora wasn't just an act.
"It's gonna leave him traumatized," Relena said to Jessica.
"But, it'll be worth it to know that your boyfriend's not a pervert and will never be a pervert," Jessica said as she set her left on Relena's shoulder reassuringly.
Relena sighed and but gave a slight nod. She didn't like the idea of exposing herself to her boyfriend she just met, but she wanted to make sure that Richie wasn't a pervert and she wanted to completely trust him as well.
"I'll do it," Relena said as she sighed. "But I'm surprised that Aurora agreed to this idea. Normally he would never agree to such an idea."
"Aurora?" Jessica asked her baby sister as she turned her back to Relena. "He... he doesn't know about this idea."
"What?" asked an alarmed Relena as her emerald green eyes widened. "What do you mean Aurora doesn't about this idea? He knows almost everything; he's around me all the time. Aurora's either at my side or close by."
"I know that he's nearby or at your side," Jessica calmly answered Relena. "He's 99.9% at your side."
Relena laughed and agreed to Jessica's last statement. Aurora was always at her side or at least 6 feet away. It was extremely rare for Aurora to leave Relena's side, but Jessica insisted that Aurora look out for Richie as he and Sparky were arriving at the beach for the date.
'Are you sure this right beach, Richie?' Sparky asked his trainer.
Richie didn't answer but noticed Aurora waiting for them along with Argon. Argon spotted Richie and Spark and waved them over to join them.
'You're just in time, you two,' Argon said to Richie and Sparky.
'For someone who was looking to ask for directions, he's doing pretty well around Tsunami Island,' Sparky said to the shiny Tyranitar who had just come to meet up with Richie.
'That's good to know,' said Aurora. 'Let's get this date started. I don't want Relena to be disappointed.'
'But the little Princess requests the presence of her boyfriend,' Argon said to Aurora as he looked to Richie.
"Uh... she wants to see me?" Richie asked Argon confused. Argon just gave a slight nod, motioned for Richie to give him the picnic basket and pointed to the private changing tent.
Richie gave a nervous nod, handed Argon the picnic basket and headed to the changing tent with the trunks that Jessica bought for him. They were a teal green and had the family crest of the Emerald Henderson family. Jessica knew of Richie's family and had seen their family crest on the logo of the Emerald Crown Resort. Richie went to the changing tent and looked to see where Relena was.
"Come closer Richie," Relena gently requested to her boyfriend.
Richie did as he was requested, but what he saw made him become shocked and his face became bright red. Twenty minutes later, Relena and Richie came out of the changing tent with smiles on their faces, but Richie still had some red on his face after seeing his girlfriend naked for the first time. He really hadn't expected her to do that him. After about 15 seconds, Richie was quick to turn his back to her as he wasn't a pervert. Richie wasn't going to disappoint his parents and become a pervert either.
"I take it he passed the test," assumed Jessica as she noticed the young couple's smiles and was about to take a drink from her bottle of water with Argon next her setting the beach blanket down on the sandy beach.
"Yes he passed the test," Relena informed Jessica as she was wearing a royal blue swimsuit with a skirt as part of the swimsuit. "And he can look at me naked all he wants too."
Jessica's eyes widened and she spat her water at Argon's direction hitting him and causing him to be startled once again when he felt the water. Jessica hadn't expected Relena to say that to her. Relena wasn't the type of to let just anyone look at her naked. For Relena to allow her boyfriend Richie to look at her naked, meant that she trusted her boyfriend completely.
Aurora was not happy as Jessica now had to explain why she had Relena test Richie. Aurora was a bit upset with his trainer for agreeing to do the test, but relieved to know Richie was not a pervert. The rest of the first date went rather well as Richie seemed to be rather lucky or he had a little help from Jessica about the things that Relena liked. Whatever the case, he seemed to be making a good first impression and Relena was quite affectionate especially when they took pictures together.
The date lasted until sunrise when Relena and Richie were tired and fell asleep on the beach blanket. Jessica made sure wrapped the blanket around her baby sister and her boyfriend they were sound asleep still in their swimsuits and Sparky in between both of them. The young couple didn't notice Jessica and Argon leaving them. She whispered to Aurora that her baby sister was in his care and to protect her with his life. She also left a letter for Relena to read when she and Richie woke up. Jessica also left a generous gift for the young couple that would find.
'Well I guess the little Princess won't be under your protection anymore,' Argon said to his trainer. 'It'll be hard to live in the palace without the her around.'
"Actually Argon, we're moving out of the palace ourselves," Jessica said to her Tyranitar companion. "So let's get most of my clothes and all of my fashion design notebooks."
'Got it,' Argon said as they drove back to the palace. 'Guess it's the start of change for Kaiou House, the Atlantica Islands and the Pokémon world as well.'
Jessica gave a slight nod and took a glance at the rising sun and said, "The time has come for Relena to become the force of change, the Pokémon Princess."
